Michael Moreland, JD, PhD

Professor of Law and Religion; Director, Eleanor H. McCullen Center for Law, Religion and Public Policy | Charles Widger School of Law Villanova University

  • Villanova PA

Michael Moreland, JD, PhD, is an expert in the areas of law and religion, free speech, constitutional law and bioethics.

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4 min

An Expert Guide to the Papacy and Pope Francis

The death of Pope Francis marks a pivotal moment for the Catholic Church, ending a papacy that redefined the Church's relationship with the modern world. As the College of Cardinals prepares to gather in conclave, Catholics across the globe are closely watching to see whether the next pontiff will build upon Francis' legacy or chart a new course. The following experts are available to provide insight into a range of related topics, including Pope Francis' enduring impact and what lies ahead for the world's 1.4 billion Catholics: Massimo Faggioli, PhD Professor, Theology and Religious Studies Dr. Massimo Faggioli is a world-renowned expert on the history and administrative inner workings of the Catholic Church, with specific expertise in the papacy, Vatican II, the Roman Curia, liturgical reform, new Catholic movements and Catholicism and global politics. As quoted on NPR: "Historically, we see in different conclaves a certain swinging of the pendulum. What the conclave and the next pope cannot do is to ignore and deny the changing features of global Catholicism, which is much less European, much less white, less North American and more Global South..." Kevin Hughes, PhD Chair, Theology and Religious Studies Dr. Kevin Hughes is a leading historical theologian, offering insights into the life, legacy and impact of Pope Francis. He can also speak to the significance of the pope in Catholicism and the influence of his teachings on the global Catholic Church. As quoted on Scripps News: "[Pope Francis' selection] was really the Church extending beyond the limits of its European imagination. His Latin American identity was really crucial to embracing a new moment within the Church and opening the door in so many ways, and I think he bore witness to that throughout his papacy." Jaisy Joseph, PhD Assistant Professor, Systematic and Constructive Theology Dr. Jaisy Joseph is a trained ecclesiologist, able to address a wide range of topics relating to the papacy, conclave process and Catholic Church. Previously, she has commented on the Church's presence in Asia and the Global South, offering expert commentary on its growth, challenges and shifting influence. As quoted by ABC News Digital: "[The election of someone from the Global South would be] a move in that direction of how to be a global church. That move from a Eurocentric church to a truly global church—I think that's what Francis really inaugurated." Patrick Brennan, JD Professor of Law; John F. Scarpa Chair in Catholic Legal Studies Professor Brennan is an expert on the conclave process and the main rules that govern it. He can also speak to topics such as the contemporary and historical importance of secrecy in the conclave, what the cardinals may be looking for in the next pope and the factors that cause similarities and differences from one conclave to the next.  As quoted on Fox 29's Good Day Philadelphia: "The purpose of the general congregation is for the cardinals, who don't know each other in some cases, to get to know each other better as they learn about the current state of the Church and together decide on the needs of the Church and priorities for the new pontificate." Brett Grainger, ThD Associate Professor, Study of Spirituality and American Religious History Dr. Brett Grainger is a go-to source for discussions of the changing face and role of modern spirituality in America. He serves as an expert on contemporary religious trends and can also speak to the broader public reaction to Pope Francis' passing, especially outside of the Catholic faith. As quoted by Courthouse News Service: "People are disaffiliating from a tradition—that doesn't necessarily mean in fact that they don't believe in God anymore...What's more important is 'Is this giving me life? Is this making my life more meaningful? Is this giving me the kind of energy and purpose that I'm looking for?' That's where religion is going." Michael Moreland, JD, PhD Professor of Law and Religion; Director, Eleanor H. McCullen Center for Law, Religion and Public Policy Dr. Michael Moreland is a renowned scholar of constitutional law, religious freedom, public policy and ethics. He can provide expert commentary on items related to the Catholic right and the state of religious politics in the United States. As featured on NBC News Digital: Michael Moreland said the mass appeal of "Conclave" captured how, even in a secular modern age, there is still pervasive intrigue around "the ancient rituals of the Catholic Church." "The significance of the theological and spiritual aspects of Catholicism and this process of electing a pope was kind of reduced into partisan politics," he said. Ilia Delio, OSF, PhD Josephine C. Connelly Endowed Chair in Christian Theology Sr. Ilia Delio addresses topics in her work such as theology and evolution, technology and human becoming and understandings of Catholicity in a world of complexity. She can provide expert insight into Laudato Si', Pope Francis' position on the environment, the relationship between science and religion and integral ecology. As featured in the National Catholic Reporter: "We are clearly an Earth in crisis," with a reversal necessary to secure a sustainable future, said Ilia Delio... Delio posed a series of questions: about the relationship between religion and science; what Laudato Si', and Christianity more broadly, can offer ecological movements; and whether the concept of kinship or creation as family might better reflect humanity's place within nature than "care for creation." To speak with any of these media experts, please contact mediaexperts@villanova.edu.

Michael  Moreland, JD, PhDMassimo Faggioli, PhDBrett Grainger, ThDIlia Delio, OSF, PhD

Media

Social

Areas of Expertise

Supreme Court
Free Speech
Supreme Court Nomination Process
Law and Religion
Constitutional Law
First Amendment
Separation of Powers
Gerrymandering
Bioethics

Biography

Professor Moreland is an expert on topics related to law and religion, free speech, constitutional law, tort law, and bioethics. Moreland previously served as Associate Director for Domestic Policy at the White House under President George W. Bush, where he worked on a range of legal policy issues, including criminal justice, immigration, civil rights and liability reform.

Education

University of Michigan Law School

JD

Boston College

PhD

Boston College

MA

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Affiliations

  • AALS Law and Religion Section
  • Witherspoon Institute (Princeton, NJ) Task Force on Conscience Protection
  • Saint Thomas More Society of Philadelphia, Board of Governors
  • Federalist Society, Religious Liberties Practice Group Executive Committee
  • Peer Reviewer: Cambridge University Press, Harvard University Press, Journal of Law and Religion, Journal of Catholic Social Thought, Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Theological Studies

Select Media Appearances

Supreme Court Fight Over Catholic Charter School Could Clear the Way for Taxpayer-Funded Religious Schools

CNN  online

2025-04-29

The battle over St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School in Oklahoma has pit public school officials, traditional charter school advocates and the state's Republican attorney general against powerful religious groups... Michael Moreland, a law professor at Villanova University who specializes in religion, warned against "catastrophizing" the potential impact of a ruling for St. Isidore. Exactly how far the decision reaches will depend on how broadly the court rules and whether a state's charter school law is similar to Oklahoma's.

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How Does a Papal Conclave Work? People are Turning to this Oscar-Winning Film to Find Out

NBC News  online

2025-04-23

Michael Moreland, a professor of law and religion at Villanova University, said the mass appeal of “Conclave” captured how, even in a secular modern age, there is still pervasive intrigue around “the ancient rituals of the Catholic Church.”

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Supreme Court that Trump Helped Shape Could Have the Last Word on his Aggressive Executive Orders

Associated Press  online

2025-02-10

Trump’s now-paused effort to freeze federal spending and his call to shut down USAID also might meet resistance, even in front of the conservative court, though more modest reductions could fare better.

“The court will be more skeptical, especially if the administration tries to completely unwind an agency that has been created by statute,” said Villanova University law professor Michael Moreland, who worked in the George W. Bush White House.

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Select Academic Articles

A Survey of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Abortion Jurisprudence (Book Chapter)

Abortion: Global Positions and Practices, Religious and Legal Perspectives

Alireza Bagheri, Michael Moreland

2021

Justice, Love, and Duties of Care in Tort Law (Book Chapter)

Agape and Law

Robert Cochran, Zachary Calo

2017

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Institutional Conscience: From Free Exercise to Freedom of Association and Church Autonomy

The Conscience of the Institution

Michael Moreland

2014

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